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The number of farmers markets in Pennsylvania blossomed by more than 75 percent over the last decade.

The state has 297 markets, up from 167 in 2004, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nationally, the volume jumped more than 120 percent over the decade to 8,268.

“It’s part of the buy-local movement,” said John Esslinger, a regional horticulture educator at Penn State Cooperative Extension. “A lot of the times, there are relationships built. People kind of like somewhat knowing the person who is growing their food.”

Some recent markets have expanded to become fixtures for sources of local fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, baked goods and other products, such as honey and maple syrup.

The South Side Farmers Market started in 2009 with three vendors at Connors Park on Orchard Street. The exchange, which operates on Saturdays, relocated to the Scranton Iron Furnaces in 2012 and has 11 vendors now.

“We wanted a neighborhood market that people could walk to and buy fresh, local produce,” said Jill Murrin, Elm Street project manager at United Neighborhood Centers, which coordinates the market. “Every year, it gets a little big bigger and a little different.”

The Essential Eating market opened in 2009 along Northern Boulevard in South Abington Twp. with three vendors.

The market, which operates on Thursdays, has expanded to seven sellers, said organizer Janie Quinn.

“The only way to have a sustainable food supply is to grow it locally and be diverse,” said Ms. Quinn, founder of Essential Eating, a Waverly-based publisher and organic food company. “The real food is sold out of the back of somebody’s truck.”

Farmers attribute the expansion to the momentum of the local-food movement.

“We can sell more if we can grow it and get it harvested,” said Charlie Miller, a Newton Twp. vegetable farmer who sells at the Scranton Cooperative Farmers Market. “It’s encouraging that people want local and they patronize us. They feel good buying directly from the people who are growing it.”

Some of the appeal comes from increased health awareness, Mr. Miller said.

“People are becoming more leery of the produce coming in from outside the country,” he said.

“I see a younger generations that is interested in being healthier,” said Mr. O’Malia, who sells at the Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market on Public Square and has a produce stand at the farm. “I do think there was a generation or so that got away from it.”

Farmers markets compete well with supermarkets on quality and price, Mr. O’Malia said.

“We pick as fresh as we can all the time and that is something we can offer that chains and supermarkets can’t offer,” he said.

Surveys at regional farmers markets indicate customers like the freshness and quality of the produce and want to support local agriculture, Mr. Esslinger said.

“There is no better way to know what is in your food than buying it from a local farmer,” Ms. Murrin said.

Even though the number of farmers bazaars has swelled, some startups falter, Mr. Esslinger said.

“Most of the markets that have started recently are smaller markets that are addressing the needs of a local community,” he said.

Mr. O’Malia said he has rejected invitations to participate in several newer farmers markets.

“I can only raise so much stuff,” he said. “I’m practically maxed out.”

Contact the writer: jhaggerty@timesshamrock.com

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